Zambians have one hand on Uganda Golf Open trophy

It will be Dominic versus Musonda in Friday’s Johnie Walker Uganda Open pressure group

Kampala, Uganda | UGU MEDIA | A forensic inquiry must be opened into how he got a bogey on the second hole on Thursday. It is the only bogey Dominic Musonda has played in his 42 holes at Kitante, with the Zambian firmly in the driving seat, a massive six strokes ahead of his nearest challenger Gilbert Chalwe. Musonda has a few fingers on the trophy.

So dominant was Musonda that what would pass for a blemish on his card were the 11 pars. He was that imperious. On the final hole, he missed the fairway and looked to be in precarious bogey territory. From deep in the forest, he scrambled his way to the green and nearly holed a birdie on one of the toughest pin placements of the entire course.

If a good golfer’s ability is measured in the ability to recover from trouble, Musonda excelled with flying colours. In fairness, he was hardly in trouble. He was accurate off the tee and superb with his wedge game. To catch him, it will take an epic collapse. With the way he is swinging, the chances of that happening are as thin as a mosquito’s nostril.

Musonda came within a shot of matching the course record of 63 that Deo Akope set in 2010 in an MTN Monthly Mug Professional event. That record would later be equalled by Kenya’s gifted left-hander Richard Ainley. Unsurprisingly, Musonda had various close shaves to match the mark of Akope and Ainley.

What was ascertained on Thursday was that it will not be Uganda lifting the Johnnie Walker Uganda Amateur Golf trophy on Friday.

Chalwe, the other Zambian who has been sensational at Kitante, shot a one-under 71 to maintain a grip on second position. He is five strokes better than the day-one leader, Joseph Kasozi.

Ugandan golfers occupy the next three positions on the leaderboard with Juma Abiti, John Musiimenta and Joseph Cwinya-ai forming the top six along with another Zambian, Musamba Kapoma.

Cwinya-ai showed his championship DNA with eight birdies and a fine round of 69, which put respectability to his name. The main Open concludes Friday before attention shifts to next week, with the PRO-AM pencilled in for Tuesday.

Other sponsors of the Uganda Golf Open are ABSA Bank, Aquafina, Medisell, Finaltus, Case Hospital, MTN, National Council of Sports, NBS, Pearl Marina, Rosefoam, Uganda Airlines, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Golf Club and R&A.